On the systematic placement of Pyreneplax Ossó, Domínguez & Artal, 2014 (Decapoda, Brachyura, Vultocinidae)

Abstract

Examination of the thoracic sternum and pleonal elements of a new male specimen of Pyreneplax basaensis Ossó, Domínguez & Artal, 2014 from the upper Eocene of northern Spain confirms its assignment to the family Vultocinidae Ng & Manuel-Santos, 2007 and reveals the presence of an old lineage ( Pyreneplax and possible allies) that appeared during the Eocene, persisting to the present day.